Salmon Pins ~ Made in USA

Looking for the perfect gift for your fisherman? Here it is!!!

Our Hand-painted Salmon Pins

These gorgeous and unusual salmon pins are made in Washington and Idaho by a team of U.S. artists. The high-quality lapel pins or oversized tie tacks are unique. They are exquisitely detailed; the quality of the painting elevates each pin to an item of wearable art. Each one is cast in pewter and painted by hand. You will be delighted with the professional quality and artistic details of your piece of fish jewelry. The finish is extremely smooth and shiny, as you can see by the highlight from the scanner. It is also extremely durable. The pin is secured by two sturdy tacks on the back so it stays upright, and the finished product is not only beautiful, but satisfyingly substantial in weight. It can be used as a lapel pin, hat pin, tie tack, and more. This collectible animal pin is heirloom quality, and the details are so realistic, they are found in museum gift shops and bought by organizations in need of the perfect animal to represent their group.

About Sockeye Salmon

The third most common Pacific salmon species, Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) are found in the northern Pacific Ocean and rivers that discharge into it. Sockeye salmon also exist in completely land-locked populations, living and reproducting in lakes. These salmon, while exactly the same species, are known as kokanee. Kokanee tend to be much smaller than the ocean-dwelling salmon, rarely exceeding 14 inches in length. Sockeye salmon spawn in fresh water, then migrate to the ocean for 1 - 4 years. While in the ocean, Sockeye salmon are blue-tinged and silver in color, only taking on the distictive red hue and green head when migrating to spawn. In males, the jaws and teeth also become hooked, and are used primarily for fighting other males. Sockeye salmon feed primarily on plankton, and will occasionally feast on shrimp and insects. The word "sockeye" comes from the Halkomelem word "Suk-kegh", meaning red fish.

 This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Lobster Jewelry

Show your love of the sea on your collar with this delightful bling!

About Our Hand-Painted Pins

Made in Washington and Idaho by a team of three U.S. artists, these high-quality pins or tie tacks are unique. Each exquisitely detailed piece is cast in pewter and painted by hand. The finish is extremely smooth and shiny, as you can see by the highlight from the scanner. Each animal jewelry pin is secured by two sturdy tacks on the back so it doesn't skew sideways or turn upside down, and the finished product is not only gorgeous, but satisfyingly substantial in weight. They can be used as lapel pins, hat pins, tie tacks, and more. These collectible animal pins are heirloom quality, and the details are so realistic, they are found in museum gift shops and bought by organizations in need of the perfect animal to represent their group. In fact, if you're interested in having the name of your organization put on an item, write to us for details. We can also get this design for you in pewter finish, bronze plate, silver plate, or 24-karat gold plate (ask about prices). You can find more fish and animals by the same artists listed on our Items by Series page.

The lobster pin measures almost 1-3/4 inches long by 7/8 inch wide.

About Lobsters

Our lobster pin is a clawed lobster, a large marine crustacean related to freshwater crayfish. Clawed lobster fossils date back until at least the Cretaceous period, over 65 million years ago. Although their appearance is similar to scorpions, lobsters are not arachnids…they are arthropods, with ten legs total (the first three sets have claws, and the first of these are much bigger than the others). Lobsters are amongst the very few animals that show no detrimental effects of aging, continuing to grow and increase in fertility until an outside force (disease, predation, injury) causes death. Generally, lobsters are less than 20 inches long. The largest lobster was caught in Canada and weighed over 44 pounds.

Lobsters live in all oceans and may live as deep as 2000 fathoms, or 3700 meters. They are omnivores, preferring live fish, crustaceans and some plant life. In the wild lobsters have been known to sc

avenge, and have resorted to cannibalism in captivity where all other food sources are absent.

Lobster is an extremely popular and sought-after food. All commercial lobster are caught wild. While attempts to domesticate and farm lobster continue, none have been commercially successful. Lobster’s commercial popularity is relatively new, however. Prior to the mid-19th century in North America, lobster was considered a second-rate cuisine, fit only for the lowest members of society. Servants would specify that they “would not eat lobster more than twice a week” in their employment agreements. Well into the 20th century, lobster was used as fertilizer, fish bait, and a low-priced canned staple item, similar to tuna today.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Great white shark and many other sea animals - lapel or hat pins that express your nature!

This relistic great white shark pin is only one of the many beautiful hand made and hand painted animal pins we have in stock. Express yourself or find just the right pin for a very special gift!

These items are unique in the world of animal jewelry! Made in Washington and Idaho by a team of three U.S. artists, these high-quality pins or tie tacks are exceptional. Each exquisitely detailed piece is cast in pewter and painted by hand. The finish is extremely smooth and shiny, as you can see by the highlight from the scanner. Each pin is secured by two sturdy tacks on the back so it doesn't skew sideways or turn upside down, and the finished product is not only gorgeous, but satisfyingly substantial in weight. They can be used as lapel pins, hat pins, tie tacks, and more. These collectible animal pins are heirloom quality, and the details are so realistic, they are found in museum gift shops and bought by organizations in need of the perfect animal to represent their group. In fact, if you're interested in having the name of your organization put on an item, write to us for details. You will find more fish and animals by the same artists listed on our Hand-Painted Jewelry page.

Our great white shark pin or tie tack measures 1-3/4 inches long. Be sure to see our other shark jewelry.

Beautiful realistic hand-made, hand-painted jewelry for frog lovers!

These gorgeous frogs are all hand cast of pewter and painted by hand in the USA to create stunning pins for you and your frog-loving friends. Do you collect frogs? Do you know anyone who does? Our frog pins are one of a kind! Numerous frogs may be cast from the same mould, but the paint is unique. Even when the artist repeats a general color scheme, the paint is applied by hand, so each has individual variations. And, if you like our frogs but prefer your own color scheme, give us a call or send e-mail and we'll let you know what the time frame is for your own custom frog! Give us a call toll free at (888) 325-3179 or visit our online store: Tapir and Friends Wildlife World. You may not see these particular frogs on the site until we get them posted, so you may have to call to order them. We do currently have hundreds of animal jewelry pins that can be ordered directly online. We have so many animals that if you don't see the one you're looking for, give us a call - we may have it!

Painted animal pins make great holiday gifts!

Our painted animal pins are absolutely gorgeous pieces of animal jewelry for humans! If basset hounds or Skye terriers are your cup of tea, you're in luck. Come see these unique, hand-painted pins at Tapir and Friends online gift shop.

We also carry wild animals, cats, farm animals, sea creatures, fish, birds, and more. If you don't see the animal you want, please ask! Although it's too late to get animals custom painted before Christmas, we do have a huge inventory of painted pins ready to go. If you don't see the one you want on our web site, check out our Picasa Painted Pins Web Album and give us a call. We were not able to get them all online before the holiday rush - and if it's not in the web album, call anyway - we may not have had time to scan your favorite animal! Call toll free (888) 325-3179.